James Franco To Guest Star in Multi-Episode Story Arc on Soap Opera General Hospital

Not a Joke: James Franco To Appear on General Hospital

It's not April Fool's, I have not started abusing substances, this is an actual news story: James Franco is set to guest star on daytime soap opera General Hospital.

Oh and it's not just some walk-on role as a favor or a dare: Franco will star in a multi-episode arc, which will last for about two months, and he'll play a "mysterious character" (of course he will). What's more, he apparently approached General Hospital himself with the idea. His first episode will air on November 20.

This whole story is kind of too crazy to not believe, so let's just go with it. Admittedly, I used to watch General Hospital back in the day, so I am so going to set my TiVo to watch this.

What are your thoughts on this? Do you think this is all an elaborate bit, or could Franco be a closet soap fan? Most importantly, are you going to tune in?

Soaps aren't as bad as people making out to be I think since they were used to peddle products to housewives people look at them disdainfully but that seems like a remanant from 60 sexism.
I guess what I'm saying is that soaps don't have to be bad, not all soap fans are stupid (some maybe but not all) and this could be interesting. I'll watch.

Soaps aren't as bad as people making out to be I think since they were used to peddle products to housewives people look at them disdainfully but that seems like a remanant from 60 sexism.I guess what I'm saying is that soaps don't have to be bad, not all soap fans are stupid (some maybe but not all) and this could be interesting. I'll watch.

I have been a GH fan my whole life, and to hear that Jonathan Jackson is coming back as Lucky made my week. Now James Franco, a big time actor who I happen to love is coming to Port Charles?? I am so psyched! Let's hope that there is a little less mob/Spinelli concentration during the arc so that the full potential of all of the characters can be reached. Cannot. Wait.

I have been a GH fan my whole life, and to hear that Jonathan Jackson is coming back as Lucky made my week. Now James Franco, a big time actor who I happen to love is coming to Port Charles?? I am so psyched! Let's hope that there is a little less mob/Spinelli concentration during the arc so that the full potential of all of the characters can be reached.
Cannot. Wait.

time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,913850-1,00.html
Constructing a week's shows requires the concentration of a Bobby Fischer. Charts of the characters and the available actors (each actor is guaranteed a minimum number of appearances a week) guide the writers as they work. It is an axiom among writers that leading characters' personalities change every two years —that is to say, under their same name.
The head writer breaks down the bible's dense plot into brief outlines, which are then turned into scripts by the writers. The dialogue must be virtually flub-proof.
Actors move ceaselessly—with the equipment and with their colleagues — so syllables are few and speeches short and clear.
Bold analysts of the genre like to call soaps "the people's Iliad" a reference to the gloomy outcome of every story.
Characters suffer fates that would challenge a classical god.
- Writing for soaps is hard and soaps are mainly character driven. They have to be otherwise they'd fail...they are the 20th and 21st century version of classic novels (goth?) and philosophical questions explored through specific characters, character dynamics, family and community. They are underrated as far as TV goes so they get stuck with poor writers and they are being allowed to die out but they have potential.
Maybe he is doing research for a role, it's for fun, or for his writing or all these things combined. Either way I think it's pretty cool of him! I am a fan of the show (except for the past year or two) and I hope they treat him right!
The GH writers have treated Becky Herbst, Megan Ward and other actresses on the show poorly and show favoritism. But is just a guest stint and I'm sure they are thrilled to have an academy award winner on the show...much like when they had Elizabeth Taylor on the show in the early 80s as Helena Cassadine.

5 years

I have watched GH on and off since I was a kid. I'll watch a soap regularly and then drift away from it for awhile,you know? Recently I watched GH because I loved the pairing known as "Liason" but they got broken up and the show has changed a lot over the years. They hire young new actors and don't give air time to vets and Brian Frons thinks that when he created the role of Courtney Matthews and Sam McCall that he was bringing new life to the show like Gloria Monty in creating the Spencers. The guy has a major ego and the headwriter Bob Guza has turned it into Mob Central and rips off shows like 24 and movies like The G_dfather.
But I heard Jonathan Jackson is coming back and now this? I may tune in now!
I also agree with posters 8,9 and 11.

:cheer: I am such a fan of GH and having Franco join in the the soap-action is going to be fun to watch. It has been awhile since a well-known, quality actor has stopped by Port Charles (sorry, Vincent Patstore does not count <em>too</em> much in my book :P ) so maybe this will help bring back former & new fans to the show.

:cheer:
I am such a fan of GH and having Franco join in the the soap-action is going to be fun to watch. It has been awhile since a well-known, quality actor has stopped by Port Charles (sorry, Vincent Patstore does not count too much in my book :P ) so maybe this will help bring back former & new fans to the show.

ilanac13, how can you not like him? LOL
I think he's kinda funny and maybe a stoner like GeneParmesar said. And he's very talented. I don't get why Josh Brolin was nominated for Milk and James and Diego Luna didn't...

ilanac13, how can you not like him? LOLI think he's kinda funny and maybe a stoner like GeneParmesar said. And he's very talented. I don't get why Josh Brolin was nominated for Milk and James and Diego Luna didn't...

See this is how you keep tongues wagging and people interested. Not sex tapes, fake marriages,DWIs, staged photo ops. You act in a soap opera not turn your life into one, James Franco is so weird I love it.